Fin Donnelly in the House of Commonshttp://openparliament.ca/politicians/fin-donnelly/Statements by Fin Donnelly in the House of Commons, from openparliament.ca.enTue, 22 May 2018 14:10:00 -0400Natural Resourceshttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/22/fin-donnelly-1/<p data-HoCid="5429379" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, as the deadline for Kinder Morgan approaches, I want to tell the House what I have been hearing from constituents about this project. This pipeline goes right through my riding and my constituents will be directly affected.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5429380" data-originallang="en">People are infuriated that the federal government would even consider using taxpayer dollars to bail out a Texas-based company instead of investing in services Canadians need, like affordable housing, services for seniors, health care, and a national pharmacare program.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5429381" data-originallang="en">My constituents do not accept the risks that Kinder Morgan brings to our community and our province. They would rather see a just transition to a low-carbon economy, with investments in good-paying jobs and training in the renewable energy sector. They want the government to make a bold investment in our future. They want an economy that promotes good health, good jobs, and sustainable living. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5429382" data-originallang="en">I think that makes a lot of sense, and the government would be wise to listen.</p>Tue, 22 May 2018 14:10:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/22/fin-donnelly-1/Fisheries and Oceanshttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/7/fin-donnelly-1/<p data-HoCid="5392107" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, hundreds of thousands of farmed salmon escaped once, and the state of Washington bans open net farms. In Canada, B.C. coastal first nations occupy two salmon farms for over 200 days, and the minister does nothing. On top of that, disgusting video footage shows virus-laden fish blood spewing into the wild salmon migration route and ancient glass sponges smothered by salmon farm waste, and he still does nothing. Finally, last week the environment commissioner issued a scathing report.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5392108" data-originallang="en">When will the minister stand up for wild salmon and transition this industry to safe, land-based closed containment?</p>Mon, 07 May 2018 14:50:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/7/fin-donnelly-1/Oil Tanker Moratorium Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-5/<p data-HoCid="5381655" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague has been on the fisheries committee in past Parliaments. I know the work she does privately to restore our forests in British Columbia. I know her past work as a provincial minister. Therefore, I appreciate her question and her interest. I think she brings up a good point about the difference between the two coasts.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381656" data-originallang="en">What is so incredibly magnificent about the west coast is we enjoy an abundance of biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial. We have whales. Some are threatened, such as the resident whales, but we have seen the recovery of some other species of whales. We have salmon and halibut. We have an incredible variety of species of fish and shellfish that are in abundance from the south coast up to the north coast. It is what has developed our local economies. There have been 10,000 to 15,000 years of development of these economies by our first peoples. They tell us about how they have lived off of these resources, the products of the ocean, for thousands and thousands of years. There are so many today in coastal fishing communities who rely on this abundance. They want to see these resources protected. That is why they are so passionate, as am I, about protecting, preserving, and conserving these resources.</p>Thu, 03 May 2018 16:20:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-5/Oil Tanker Moratorium Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-6/<p data-HoCid="5381660" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, yes, we are at a crossroads. I am glad he learned of the story of my three-week swim down the Fraser, which was a life-changing event for me. I have done that twice. I did it in 1995 and again in 2000. The only effect that I have suffered as a result of that is I got into politics, which I feel passionate about. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381661" data-originallang="en">His question about the world and the country being at a crossroads in our energy use is critical, and we must shift. Our science, information, and local knowledge are all converging and telling us that we have to shift now, that we are beyond the point of knowing that we cannot avoid this shift and that we have to make it. It is not a future issue; it is now. We have to look at developing, supporting, and turning to a just transition in renewables, moving to geothermal, solar, wind, and hydro. We need to invest in these projects. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381662" data-originallang="en">We need to work with municipalities, provinces, territories, and with working people to make the transition. We need to have jobs and work. We need them to make our communities and economies thrive. We also need to have a planet that is livable and sustainable, one that we can pass on and feel proud, as a society and national government, that we did the most we could to pass on a sustainable way of living.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381663" data-originallang="en"> That is why Bill <a data-HoCid="8936657" href="/bills/42-1/C-48/" title="An Act respecting the regulation of vessels that transport crude oil or persistent oil to or from ports or marine installations located along British Columbia's north coast">C-48</a> is a move in the right direction. We need to make an even greater move in the direction of a sustainable way of living, support it, invest in it, and make the needed transition happen today.</p>Thu, 03 May 2018 16:20:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-6/Oil Tanker Moratorium Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-4/<p data-HoCid="5381649" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, my colleague shares my passion about salmon and other wildlife. I know his work at the B.C. Wildlife Federation before he became involved in politics was impressive and is welcome in the House. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381650" data-originallang="en">I do want to correct him on what he thought I said. I mentioned a sevenfold increase, not a 700-fold increase. It was a 700% increase, which means a sevenfold increase. I want to correct him on another thing. I said oil tanker traffic, not just tanker traffic. That is certainly an increase. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381651" data-originallang="en">People are essentially saying that they do not feel that the risk is worth it on the west cost. They are not willing to take that risk.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381652" data-originallang="en">I did have an opportunity to count the crossings as I swam the 1,400 kilometre river. I did see a lot of crossings and I certainly did think about many things. I thought mainly about the passion of why I was doing that swim. There are so many others in British Columbia and all across the country who share the passion I have for this incredible way of life, this biodiversity that we share on the west coast. People on the west coast want to see it remain, as do I, and that is going to be a challenge for the future.</p>Thu, 03 May 2018 16:15:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-4/Oil Tanker Moratorium Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-3/<p data-HoCid="5381612" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to Bill <a data-HoCid="8936657" href="/bills/42-1/C-48/" title="An Act respecting the regulation of vessels that transport crude oil or persistent oil to or from ports or marine installations located along British Columbia's north coast">C-48</a> on an oil tanker ban on British Columbia's north coast. Canada's New Democrats are pleased that the Liberal government is finally taking action to protect the north coast of British Columbia from crude oil tanker traffic. However, we are concerned that Bill C-48 would give the minister too much arbitrary power to exempt vessels from the ban or to define what fuels would be covered under the act. We hope the government will implement constructive amendments to limit ministerial power and increase spill response resources. We are certainly concerned about the lack of consultation with first nation and other coastal communities.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381613" data-originallang="en">I want to talk about my colleague, the member for <a data-HoCid="214590" href="/politicians/nathan-cullen/" title="Nathan Cullen">Skeena—Bulkley Valley</a>, and the work he did in his riding on the northwest coast with regard to this oil tanker ban. He consulted with many people in communities and first nations. He worked with them and listened to their concerns. What they told him, over many years, was that one oil spill could ruin their way of life. That way of life depends on the ocean: on salmon, on halibut, on shellfish, on a healthy, clean ocean. What he heard was that the risks were too great. They were just not worth it.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381614" data-originallang="en">Patrick Kelly, chair of the board of Coastal First Nations Great Bear Initiative, wrote an opinion piece called “Opinion: Coastal First Nations affirm support for oil tanker ban on north coast”, which was published February 11, 2018. It reads:</p>
<blockquote><p data-HoCid="5381615" data-originallang="en"> The ocean is an integral part of our coastal First Nations cultures, societies and economy. An oil spill in our territorial waters, which includes all of the North and Central coast and Haida Gwaii, would be catastrophic. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381616" data-originallang="en"> We understand that large-vessel shipping is essential for our modern economy. Fossil fuel use is a reality we must deal with as we transition to a clean energy future. But we already know that the question is no longer “if” there’s going to be an oil spill, it has already happened. There is no “world class” oil spill clean-up system that will work on the coast. It simply does not exist. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381617" data-originallang="en"> The Heiltsuk Nation still has not recovered from the Nathan E. Stewart diesel spill. It may be years before their waters, clam beds and other marine resources are healthy again. The Haida also experienced a near disaster in October 2014 when a 135-metre bulk carrier, the Simushir, lost power in storm-force winds in their territories. The Gitga’at have been impacted by two spills, the MV Zalinski which was carrying Bunker C [fuel] when it sank and the B.C. Ferry, Queen of the North, which sank in 2006. Despite government promises of clean-up, both wreckages still leak fuel. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381618" data-originallang="en"> Our identities and culture will cease to exist if the fish, animals, plants, medicines, creatures and birds are compromised. Our way of living and livelihoods has already been severely impacted because of past industrial and commercial unsustainable practices. One example is the decline of fish and fisheries on the coast. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381619" data-originallang="en"> Historically, our leaders managed our territories and resources to meet our community needs. Wealth and surpluses were generated when times were good, and this enabled trade and inter-tribal commerce. Governing also meant enforcement of Indigenous laws and protection of lands, seas and resources. We are guided by our potlatched hereditary leaders and elders who have taught us how to balance the economic needs of our people and the need to respect our lands, cultures and environment. They have told us that oil tankers are too risky to our existence and therefore must be kept out of our territories. Consultation has been provided through the clear leadership of the CFN communities. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381620" data-originallang="en"> As chiefs and leaders we have a responsibility to leave future generations with a healthy environment and a sustainable economy. This is why we are working with the federal government to develop a fisheries industry that will benefit our communities. It is why we are working with the B.C. government to develop new clean energy strategies which includes First Nations from the outset. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381621" data-originallang="en"> CFN, through its Carbon Credit Corp., is now the largest carbon credit seller in Canada and revenues generated from sales are re-invested by each nation to further protect their lands and resources. Collectively, our nations have trained and now employ over 100 stewardship staff and guardians. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381622" data-originallang="en"> Our people and communities need jobs and revenue, and we know that the traditional resource sectors alone will not meet growth demands of our nations so we are open to new developments. But new resource or industrial developments must never compromise our natural environment. There is no place for oil tankers on our coast. As Indigenous people who have lived in our territories for more than 14,000 years, as British Columbians, and as Canadians, we have a collective responsibility to protect our lands, waters and resources. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381623" data-originallang="en"> The tanker moratorium is good and necessary public policy. </p>
</blockquote><p data-HoCid="5381624" data-originallang="en">That is a powerful letter, and a powerful statement, and I am glad to have read that into the record. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381625" data-originallang="en">I got into politics to defend our west coast way of life; the incredible biodiversity we enjoy in the province of British Columbia; the rivers, the lakes, the forests, the mountains, the oceans, the wildlife; and the communities and economies that have developed as a result of that abundance. However, the way we are living now is impacting that abundance and biodiversity. We have species at risk, threatened and endangered, whether it is salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, caribou, or many other species that are SARA listed. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381626" data-originallang="en">These are real issues, and they are not easy problems to fix, but there needs to be political will to address these problems and to do things differently. We must find ways to live within our means and move to a low-carbon economy, and we need to do that in a just way. We need a just transition to a sustainable way of living. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381627" data-originallang="en">This is what motivated me to swim the 1,400 kilometre length of the Fraser River, one of the greatest salmon rivers on the planet. The northern gateway Enbridge pipeline project would have crossed hundreds of rivers and streams, going through salmon and fish-bearing rivers and creeks and crossing very steep slopes and mountainous valleys right through the northern part of the Fraser River basin. I was so passionate about bringing my message of sustainability, I swam for three weeks in icy cold water from Mount Robson, in the Fraser's headwaters, to Prince George, down through the Fraser canyon, past Hope, and west past my home community of Coquitlam to the river's mouth, Musqueam territory, in Vancouver, near the Salish Sea.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381628" data-originallang="en">This was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life, swimming for three weeks in that cold water, but it taught me one thing. It taught me to be resolute, and I committed that I would do everything in my power to encourage people to transition to a sustainable way of living, which includes transitioning in a just and fair way to a low-carbon economy, shifting away from oil and gas and toward renewable forms of energy.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381629" data-originallang="en">The reasons are clear. The science is overwhelming. The world is burning so much carbon from oil, coal, and gas that we are changing the climate. We have now passed 400 parts per million, a historic high. We are well on our way to an average warming of 2<sup>o</sup> C, which global scientists warn us will have a dramatic impact on human civilization, our economies, our communities, and all others we share this planet with. That is not just in the future. That is happening now, and we are seeing it in the form of floods, fires, and impacts on our planet. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381630" data-originallang="en">This means that sometimes we have to say no. We need to say no to things that we know will harm us. This is one of those times. Banning oil tanker traffic off B.C.'s north coast is the right thing to do.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381631" data-originallang="en">Another one of those times is the Kinder Morgan pipeline project which, if built, is planned to bring a 700% increase in oil tanker traffic to the Vancouver port in Burrard Inlet. For the past two years, my colleague, the member for <a data-HoCid="214215" href="/politicians/kennedy-stewart/" title="Kennedy Stewart">Burnaby South</a>, has been working hard to raise awareness about the detrimental impacts of that Kinder Morgan project, how the risks far outweigh the benefits of this proposal. He knows, like I do, it is times like these that we must take a strong and principled stand on projects that will not bring prosperity to the country that we love and that we know is full of promise. Worse, it will have a detrimental impact on the existing way of life and on future generations.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381632" data-originallang="en">I am very disappointed the government is sticking to its decision to move ahead with the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline. This pipeline would triple the amount of tar sands oil being moved to the coast of British Columbia where it will be loaded onto oil tankers and headed out to sea and directly through critical habitat of the endangered southern resident orca, and other marine life. Not only does this significantly increase human caused noise and ship strikes, but it also increases the risk of catastrophic oil spills in southern resident orca habitat, which would be devastating for this endangered iconic species and the entire ecosystem of the Salish Sea. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381633" data-originallang="en">The government tells us not to worry, that it has everything covered with its so-called oceans protection plan. The problem is the government has no marine mammal response plan for an oil spill. As I and others have said many times in the House, the tankers would be carrying diluted bitumen and there is no technology in place today to clean it up. It simply does not exist. On top of that, the rugged B.C. coastline and often challenging weather conditions can make response efforts extremely difficult. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381634" data-originallang="en">The government's record and its ability to respond to emergency incidents have been causing many on the B.C. coast concern. Response to the 2015 <em>Marathassa</em> spill in Vancouver's English Bay and the 2016 <em>Nathan B. Stewart</em> spill near Bella Bella proved that Canada's response plan is completely lacking. The government keeps making funding announcements for the oceans protection plan, but all the money in the world will not change the fact that the impact of an oil spill on B.C.'s rugged coast would be devastating.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381635" data-originallang="en">I want to conclude my remarks by referring to DeSmog's summary of what it wants Canadians to know about Bill <a data-HoCid="8936657" href="/bills/42-1/C-48/" title="An Act respecting the regulation of vessels that transport crude oil or persistent oil to or from ports or marine installations located along British Columbia's north coast">C-48</a>. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381636" data-originallang="en"> One, DeSmog indicates that a tanker ban will not ban supertankers of refined oil from the coast. While the proposed legislation does prevent supertankers of crude oil and similar hydrocarbon products from moving in and out of northern ports in large quantities, it does not prevent refined oil products from doing the same. This leaves the door open for future major oil refinery projects on B.C.'s north coast. There are two proposed refineries, one in Kitimat called Kitimat Clean, which would refine 400,000 barrels of oil per day, and the Pacific Future Energy refinery project, which would refine 200,000 barrels per day. Those are the projected refinery amounts. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381637" data-originallang="en"> Two, DeSmog is very concerned that tankers carrying 12,500 tonnes or less of oil are excluded from this ban. This is a huge amount of oil. Once passed, the bill would only prevent vessels carrying more than 12,500 tonnes of crude oil from stopping at coastal ports. This is a big concern to its readers. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381638" data-originallang="en"> Three, DeSmog indicates that the tanker ban would not prevent another <em>Nathan E. Stewart</em> incident from happening. The tanker ban was first announced by the federal government after the <a data-HoCid="214333" href="/politicians/marc-garneau/" title="Marc Garneau">Minister of Transport </a> travelled to the Heiltsuk territory to witness a diesel spill from the <em>Nathan E. Stewart</em>, a sunken fuel barge. This spill had a devastating impact on the local fishery and shellfish fishery. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381639" data-originallang="en">Jess Housty, a tribal councillor from the Heiltsuk First Nation said that the tanker ban “changes nothing”. She is adamantly concerned about tanker traffic and the types of products that will be transported off the north coast of where she calls home.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381640" data-originallang="en">Fourth, DeSmog indicates that the south coast of B.C. near Vancouver and Victoria is still not protected. DeSmog is concerned that this tanker ban would not impact tanker traffic off B.C.'s south coast near the terminus of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline in the Burnaby-Vancouver port.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381641" data-originallang="en">The fifth concern that DeSmog would like to bring to the attention of all Canadians is that the details of the banned fuels are subject to change. I talked about ministerial discretion. There is a concern that the tanker ban will prevent the movement of large amounts of crude oil from traversing coastal waters in B.C. and the ban will also cover heavy hydrocarbons known as persistent oils in the schedule. DeSmog is concerned that there are many other types of deleterious substances that will be transported which could have an impact on the coastal way of life.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381642" data-originallang="en">This is a huge concern to many coastal communities, first nations, and others on Canada's west coast. It is a growing concern to many throughout this great country.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381643" data-originallang="en">This is a good first step to ban oil tanker traffic off the north coast, but we still have a way to go to deal with the impacts of a changing climate, the impact of losing species at an alarming rate, and transitioning in a just and fair way toward a sustainable way of life.</p>Thu, 03 May 2018 15:55:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-3/Oil Tanker Moratorium Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-2/<p data-HoCid="5381581" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's passion, her intervention, and the knowledge that she brings to this debate. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381582" data-originallang="en">The member talked about what has been done to improve efficiency in technology in the oil sands, but right now the world faces the fact that we are burning carbon at an alarming rate, and it is a huge problem. Global scientists have told us that one of the largest problems, if not the largest problem, that humanity faces on the planet is to reverse this trend. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5381583" data-originallang="en">We are at over 400 parts per million and are quickly approaching a two-degree rise in global average temperature. What is the Conservative plan to deal with and reverse this trend while they are still promoting the use of fossil fuels?</p>Thu, 03 May 2018 15:45:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-2/Oil Tanker Moratorium Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-1/<p data-HoCid="5381501" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member's comments on the northern tanker ban.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381502" data-originallang="en">One of the elements the government has introduced is the oceans protection plan to look at how we protect our coastal communities. We have heard a lot about this so-called oceans protection plan.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381503" data-originallang="en">One of the concerns is the technology that is supposed to exist to clean up dilbit. We just heard the question about Kinder Morgan and the proposal that would bring that diluted bitumen to the coast. It would bring a sevenfold increase of tanker traffic to the Vancouver port.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5381504" data-originallang="en">I am wondering if the hon. member could tell the House about the technology in the oceans protection plan that exists to clean up and deal with that toxic dilbit.</p>Thu, 03 May 2018 15:20:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/3/fin-donnelly-1/Petitionshttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/fin-donnelly-6/<p data-HoCid="5371298" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, I would also like to table e-petition 1419, which was initiated by Gregory Gordon from Kamloops, B.C., which received 681 signatures. With fewer than 200 fish expected to return to the Thompson River to spawn, from a run that once numbered in the thousands, and less than 50 expected to return to the Chilcotin River, the situation is urgent. The petitioners call on the <a data-HoCid="214310" href="/politicians/catherine-mckenna/" title="Catherine McKenna">Minister of Environment</a> to issue an emergency listing order under the Species at Risk Act for the interior Fraser steelhead.</p>Mon, 30 Apr 2018 15:20:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/fin-donnelly-6/Petitionshttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/fin-donnelly-5/<p data-HoCid="5371296" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, I rise to present two e-petitions. The first is e-petition 1416, which was initiated by Poul Bech, a member of my riding of Port Moody—Coquitlam Anmore Belcarra, which received 1,732 signatures. Thompson River steelhead are at risk of extirpation, with fewer than 200 expected to return to spawn from a run that once numbered in the thousands. Gillnets and purse seines in the chum salmon fisheries occurring in the Fraser River and approach areas intercept significant numbers of migrating interior Fraser steelhead and bycatch, which is unsustainable. Alternative selective fishing methods are required in order to help them recover. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5371297" data-originallang="en">The petitioners call on the <a data-HoCid="223727" href="/politicians/dominic-leblanc/" title="Dominic LeBlanc">Minister of Fisheries</a> to suspend gillnet fish and purse seine chum salmon fisheries in the Fraser River and approach areas, including Johnstone Strait during the annual interior Fraser River steelhead migration in the months of September, October, and November, and to work with gillnet and purse seine fishers to establish alternative, sustainable, fully selective and fully monitored fisheries practices during the annual interior Fraser River steelhead migration.</p>Mon, 30 Apr 2018 15:20:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/fin-donnelly-5/Oil Tanker Moratorium Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/fin-donnelly-3/<p data-HoCid="5370820" data-originallang="en">Madam Speaker, I think consistency is critical. I came from local government before my term here as an MP, and I know that businesses, community members, and individuals absolutely want to know what the rules are. They want to know that they are consistently applied. They want that to be transparent. They want governments at all levels to be very transparent about what those rules are. Therefore, I agree that there should be consistency.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5370821" data-originallang="en"> Obviously, we are on the opposite side of the fence when it comes to oil tanker traffic and pipeline proposals when there is not a fair process applied, when first nations have not been consulted properly, and when environmental assessments are inadequate.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5370822" data-originallang="en">The member mentioned what energy alternatives could look like. I think, as do Canada's New Democrats, that we should be exploring hydro power, tidal power, solar energy, geothermal energy, and working with our cities right across this country and our diverse regions to explore those options.</p>Mon, 30 Apr 2018 12:45:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/fin-donnelly-3/Oil Tanker Moratorium Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/fin-donnelly-4/<p data-HoCid="5370826" data-originallang="en">Madam Speaker, I think the issues that I brought up in my speech would answer that question. Hopefully, the member was listening. I talked about ministerial discretion, which gives the minister the power to make huge changes and amendments. There is no time limit in terms of when those decisions could end. Therefore, a minister in a new government could reverse the entire point and purpose of this oil tanker ban on the north coast. That is a huge discrepancy under the oceans protection plan.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5370827" data-originallang="en"> I previously asked the <a data-HoCid="214333" href="/politicians/marc-garneau/" title="Marc Garneau">Minister of Transport</a> how, if the northern gateway project were to go through, it would go about cleaning up dilbit. The technology does not exist. The <a data-HoCid="214333" href="/politicians/marc-garneau/" title="Marc Garneau">transport minister </a> could not answer. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5370828" data-originallang="en">Canada's New Democrats have been clear. We need to transition to a low-carbon economy immediately and start to work with our provinces, territories, and municipalities at exploring other options and ramping up hydro power, tidal power, geothermal energy, and solar energy. There are so many other examples that could get us to that low-carbon economy. </p>Mon, 30 Apr 2018 12:45:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/fin-donnelly-4/